春节贴春联习俗的由来.doc

春节贴春联习俗的由来OriginofSpringFestivalCoupletsTheStory:春联(SpringFestivalcouplet)也叫“门对”、“春贴”、“对联”(antitheticalcouplet)、“对于”，每逢春节，家家户户都要精选一幅大红春联贴于门上，为节日增加喜庆气氛。早在秦汉以前，我国民间就有过年时在大门的左右悬挂桃符(peachwoodcharm)的习俗。桃符就是用桃木做的两块大板，上面分别书写上传说中的降鬼大神“神荼”和“郁垒”的名字，用以驱鬼压邪(scareawayevilspirits)。这种习俗延续了一千多年。到了五代，人们才开始把联语写在桃木板上代替了降鬼大神的名字。到了明代，明太祖朱元璋大力提倡对联。他在金陵定都以后，命令大臣、官员和一般老百姓家除夕前都必须书写一副对联贴在门上，他亲自穿便装出巡，挨门挨户观赏取乐。贴春联的习俗也就因此流传了下来。OriginofSpringFestivalCoupletsTheStory:SpringFestivalcouplets,alsoknownasspringcouplets,doorcouplets,andantitheticalcouplets,giveoffahappyandjoyfulatmospheretothefestival.ManyhouseholdschooseapairofredSpringFestivalcoupletsandplacethemonbothsidesofthefrontdoor.BeforetheQinandHanDynasty,theChinesepeoplewouldplacecharmsmadefrompeachwoodonbothsidesofthefrontdoorbeforeNewYear’sDay.PeachwoodcharmsareboardswiththecharactersShentuandYuleiwrittenoneachpiece.Accordingtolegend,ShentuandYuleiarethenamesofghost-huntinggods,sopeopleusedtheirnamestoscareawayghostsandevilspirits.ThiscustomexistedformorethanamillenniumuntiltheFiveDynasties,whenthegods’namesonthepeachwoodboardswerereplacedwithantitheticalsentences.DuringtheMingDynasty,ZhuYuanzhang,thefirstemperoroftheMingDynastyencouragedpeopletouseantitheticalcouplets.AfterheestablishedthecapitalinJinling,hecommandedallofhisministers,officials,andcommonerstoplaceantitheticalcoupletsontheirfrontdoorsbeforeNewYear’sEve.Inadiscreetmanner,EmperorZhuwentintotownandinspectedthecoupletsonthefrontdoors.Fromthenon,thecustomofusingSpringFestivalcoupletswasformed.